MERS now in 18 countries; three in U.S. confirmed to have viral illness

Mandy Gambrell

10:19 AM, May 19, 2014

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A thermal imaging meter, to test people for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), is seen outside of the room where defense ministers of the the Gulf Cooperation Council are meeting on May 14, 2014 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mandel Ngan - Pool/Getty Images

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The first U.S. case of the viral illness was reported in Indiana and involved someone who traveled from Saudi Arabia. Another reported case involves a health care worker who traveled from there to Orlando, Florida.

Another person in Illinois may have gotten MERS from face-to-face contact with the Indiana patient, according to the CDC. All three patients are recovering or are no longer sick.

The viral MERS situation is being closely monitored by U.S. health officials.

"So far, all the cases have been linked to countries in the Arabian Peninsula,” according to a statement from the CDC. “This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is no evidence of sustained spreading in community settings.”

People with MERS develop severe acute respiratory illness and usually have a fever, cough and shortness of breath. The CDC reports, to date, about 30 percent of those with MERS have died.

“So far, all the cases have been linked to countries in the Arabian Peninsula, the CDC statement said.

"This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is no evidence of sustained spreading in community settings."

Timeline: Sandhya Kambhampati, Scripps National Desk

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.